Police handover chained boy to Ogun govt

THE police have handed over to Ogun State government the nine-year old boy, Korede Taiwo, who was chained by his pastor father, Francis Taiwo.

Korede was chained for over a month by the cleric, who was in charge of Key of Joy Parish of the Celestial Church of Christ, Ajinwo, Ota.

The Officer-in-Charge of Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of Police Command, Oluwatoyosi Bello, handed over the boy to Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development’s officials, Abeokuta.

The boy was later taken to Stella Obasanjo Children’s Home, Ibara, Abeokuta, having told the Police that he would not like to return to his father’s house again.

Korede’s father said he did not know the implication of his action and he regretted it. He pleaded with the government to forgive him.

“I didn’t know there is a punishment for my action. But now I know. I regret my actions. I want forgiveness from the government,” he said.

Also, Korede’s step mother, Kehinde Taiwo, pleaded with the government to forgive her and the husband.

“We used to advise him. But because we didn’t know the implication that time, that is the reason we chained him. I want to beg the government not to be angry with us,” she said.

Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said the governor’s wife, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, has expressed her readiness to take care of Korede.

He stressed that the As­sistant Inspector General of Po­lice (AIG)Abdulmajid Ali has ordered thorough investigation into the matter, adding that the suspects will be arraigned in court.

“The officer in charge has just taken over the case today and we assure you the command will do proper investigation and we won’t waste time on that.

“The man will be charge to court. The step mum is also a suspect in the case. And so, the command will charge the two of them accordingly.

“The command was not happy that the boy was chained by his father for more than a month. If you look at the weight of the chain and couple with the weight of the padlock, you will know it is too heavy for that boy.

“The boy is a rugged person and I am very sure God has a purpose of sparing his life. By the time police and civil defence rescued the boy, he couldn’t stand for hours. He was so weak; the legs were weak.”

Adejobi added that it was after the boy was taken to Onipanu Police Division at Ota by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and given medical treatment that he was able to stand on his feet.

“It is a terrible case, criminal and inhuman. The command condemns that in totality. The AIG has directed that the matter be thoroughly investigated. We want to assure the public that the matter will be thoroughly investigated and we want to take the case very seriously because it must serve as a deterrent to those who want to venture into this criminal act,” he said.